ESSA Implementation Timeline

Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA): Estimated Implementation Timeline

Full Implementation: Approximately September 2017

The Department will begin issuing guidance to States concerning the ESSA transition. This guidance will alter what States will need to do in the next two years to fulfill their ESEA obligations. It will likely have an impact on state report cards and state interventions under the previous Priority and Focus school programs. This transition guidance is expected to roll out throughout 2016.

The Department will engage in negotiated rulemaking for some topics. This includes: soliciting nominations for the negotiated rulemaking panel; meetings of the panel; and ultimately notice of proposed rulemaking that incorporates any reached consensus. Topics will, at a minimum, include Title I standards, assessments, and funding “supplement not supplant” requirements.

The Department will also conduct separate rulemaking itself on other topics. This will require clearance from the Office of Management and Budget, the White House, and other relevant agencies as appropriate. Notably this could include Title I accountability, aka state intervention requirements. These would each have a 30 or 60 day public comment period before being finalized.

The Department may keep issuing guidance to States concerning the ESSA transition

The results of Negotiated Rulemaking will be available to the public for comment. It may first go to Congress for comment if consensus is not reached. In either scenario, the public will ultimately have 60 days to officially comment on the proposed rules.

The Department may continue to conduct separate rulemaking itself on other topics. These would each have a 30 or 60 day public comment period before being finalized.

The Department reviews comments and issues final regulations. Final drafts also includes a clearance process by OMB, the White House, and other relevant agencies as appropriate.

ESSA requires all regulations to be finalized by December 10, 2016.

States start considering necessary legislative, regulatory, and policy changes to align with ESSA and final regulations. This will eventually include convening the required state-level planning committees and submitting applications for Title funding.

State-level changes can begin happening on a rolling basis as soon as the first set of guidance and regulations are finalized.

Grants awarded on or after October 1, 2016 will be governed by ESSA statute. This includes a significantly reformed Expanding Opportunity through Quality Charter Schools Program.

January 2017-September 2017Covered Areas: State Implementation

States put together their Title plans and submit to the Department. This includes convening the required state-level planning committees and submitting applications for Title funding.

The US Department of Education has indicated state Title I plans will be due in March 2017, with the possibility of an extended deadline for requesting state of June 2017, as needed.

State legislatures make necessary state law changes to execute their state Title plans and comply with final ESSA requirements. This could include new state report cards, new assessments, new academic standards, new school intervention requirements; and/or new teacher quality requirements.

State Title plans are approved. States roll out new systems, which could include activities like training or technical assistance as well as district-level planning requirements.

ESSA anticipates that most provisions will be up and running for the 17/18 academic year.

The Department accepts applications and award grants for the new Expanding Opportunity through Quality Charter Schools Program.